Connecticut coach Dan Hurley has a tough decision to make, but a final choice may come sooner rather than later.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Hurley is expected to make a decision about his future as early as Monday about whether to stay at the University of Connecticut or become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
University of Connecticut coach Dan Hurley told ESPN he plans to make a decision about his future on Monday. The Lakers made Hurley a “compelling offer” in Los Angeles, but Hurley likes what he’s built with his two-time national champion team and is weighing it all. Read the full story here: https://t.co/dlTX9SkdHG
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 9, 2024
After weighing the options, Hurley told ESPN that the Lakers made a “compelling case” and offered a “compelling vision,” but he was proud of what he’d built with the Huskies, who are fresh off of winning their second consecutive NCAA championship at UConn.
ESPN reports that Hurley traveled to Los Angeles on Thursday and met with the Lakers on Friday to discuss a possible contract before returning to the East Coast on Saturday. Hurley also told ESPN that he’s “very impressed” with Lakers executive vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss, who have reportedly offered Hurley a huge contract to keep him in Los Angeles long-term.
If Hurley chooses to go to the NBA, he would replace Darvin Ham, who was released by the Lakers after just two seasons following their first-round playoff exit.
The Lakers won the NBA championship in the Orlando bubble in 2020 but have struggled since then, losing in the first round of the playoffs twice and missing the postseason altogether in 2022. The Lakers will be hoping a champion like Hurley can spark the team to make a deep postseason run next season.
